Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-01-19
The School.

About IS pupils were absent from
the Central on Friday Of last week
on account Of the storm. Three
times this number must have been
absent from the ward schools, max.
ing 800 days lost for what was GER
tainly not very severe storm. Some
children, no doubt, were better off al
home on that day than they would
have been at school. But is il necess.
airy TO virtually lose an entire day Oh
account of such storm? For thi,
is what il amounts to, since all the
lessons must be reassigned on the
next school day. II is n question
whether we are not cnfeebliDg the
race by teaching our children that il
is unsafe for them to look out doors
on a stormy day. Says DIR. A. p,
Hall in the Journal of Education
an these days most children are
thought to be too feeble to 60 to
school in q storm. Instead of the
little red school house on the hill,
they have palaces of pressed brick,
with furnaces, double windows, and
polished desks and when it rains the
storm signal stops the school. We
do not recognize the probability of
physical hardihood and we do too
little to develop it,"
The last circular issued by the
Bureau of Education is most elo-
quent plea for the study of music in
the public schools. With few excep-
tions the members of the human
family enjoy good music. So rare in
fact are these exceptions that they
who are Indifferent to this universal
art, are looked upon as objects of
pity, and sometimes even with sus-
picion. One of Cesar's reasons for
fearing Cassius was that the latter
would hear no music. We find the
same idea repeated in the Merchant
of Venice:
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds.
Is ft for treasons, stratagems and spoils.
Music" says Martin Luther, sis
master which makes the people
softer and milder, more polite and
more rational. 1t is beautiful and
a noble gift of God. l would not
part with what little l know of it for
great deal. You should be in
structed in the art, for it makes ca
pable people; it is indispensable to
have music taught in the public
schools. The school master that will
not teach i, is not the schoolmaster
for me-"
Music" says Charles w. Landon,
in the circular above referred to, as
Gods best gift to man, the only art
of earth that we take to heaven.
But music, like all our gifts, is given
us in the germ. 1t is for us to unfold
and develop it by instruction and cul-
tivation. In many of
the schools of Europe music is taught
more hours per week than any other
study. Do we not sec reason for
this in the practical Importance of
music in its every day influence, in
making the people better. happier and
more contented citizens? When the
despotic scvereigns of Europe make
so marked use of music, to insure
contentment among their masses, can
our free Republic afford to ignore so
important help to happiness and
welfare of its sovereign freemen? ?"
If music could be properly taught
in the schools of this city, it would
undoubtedly be a good investment,
simply as disciplinary measure. AS
sanitary measure much might be
said in its favor. BY improving
the voices of children it would tend
to improve their reading. 1t would
obviate the necessity, in many in
stance, of employing a private teach
er and it would bring this informa-
ton and discipline within the reach
of those who need it most.